THREE RIVERS – A focus group gathered at Three Rivers City Hall last Thursday to review—and eventually address—transportation needs in Live Oak County.

“We have had some changes come about with our transportation program and there is a study being done to access our needs for transportation to medical appointments out of town and for the public,” explained Live Oak Judge Jim Huff prior to the meeting.

Ultimately, an outcome from these conversations might just mean a public transportation system of some kind for those Live Oak County residents in need, members of the focus group said.

At the meeting, there were two representatives from the regional not-for-profit Transportation Coordination Network of the Coastal Bend, which is the lead agency for Regional Transportation Coordination and Planning in the 12 Counties of the Coastal Bend.

TCN leads the development of transportation increasing the mobility of people throughout the region, according to the Jim Wells County website.

The Texas Department of Transportation, meanwhile, has placed emphasis on providing public transportation services for older adults, individuals and families with low incomes, individuals seeking employment, training and educational opportunities, individuals with disabilities and all others with health and human service needs, the website states.

Robby Silva, project manager for TCN, said there was a lot of good information being shared at last week’s meeting.

“I’m here to help put this transportation plan together for Live Oak County,” he said.

TCN Director Martin Ornelas said the ultimate goal is to get transportation infrastructure in place to start the process of helping people take those much-needed trips from “Point A” to “Point B.”

Judge Huff led the round table discussion.

Murrell Foster, Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce Executive Director (and Three Rivers City Councilman) was there at the meeting as was George West Mayor Silvia Steele—discussing public needs and transportation resources that many in Live Oak County lack right now.

GW Mayor Steele, whose husband is disabled, said she can sympathize with area residents who have no way to get transportation to medical care for a loved one in a wheelchair.